VIDEO: Firefighters are testing out a new piece of equipment that could help fight car fires. It is a massive, thermal blanket that can wrap around a burning vehicle and reduce the temperature of the fire by hundreds of degrees within seconds. Interim fire chief Shawn Sollberger says it is especially useful in making sure the fire doesn't spread to other cars or nearby buildings. The blankets aren't cheap, though - they cost upwards of $4000 each. Right now, the department is in a trial period to determine how many it might need and how often it will use them. "How about we just do a little research within our own department? Where are the best areas for the potential of this to be?" Sollberger said. "It being on every machine is not realistic, but us being able to sprinkle it out to areas with closer parking - downtown is a great example."  

An apartment building at 439 N. Eighth St. in Quincy caught fire at 12:47 p.m. Wednesday. Quincy Fire Chief Bernie Vahlkamp said there were three units occupied at the time of the fire, but everyone was able to make it out of the building. Vahlkamp said the building was not a loss, but two units would be uninhabitable at least for the night due to smoke damage. He said the Red Cross would arrange accommodations for those displaced. Vahlkamp said the cause was under investigation. Quincy Police along with Quincy Fire Department and Ameren Illinois were all on the scene. On Saturday a fire destroyed an apartment building at 613 Chestnut St. in Quincy.  

Chicago police are investigating after at least three vehicles were set on fire in Chicago's Norwood Park Tuesday night. Police say two people were seen standing near a parked SUV in the 6600-block of West Bryn Mawr when it started on fire around 10:42 p.m. A Honda Civic parked next to that SUV was also damaged by the flames. The suspects took off in a waiting black sedan and fled westbound, police said. Police said the Office of Fire Investigation Division (OFI) was called to the scene. No injuries were reported. It appeared another vehicle was burned and its windows were smashed about a mile away in the 6200-block of N. Nordica Ave.  

Wichita firefighters fought to get a large building fire under control at the Coleman facility near 37th Street North and Hydraulic. Crews were called to the 2100 block of E. 37th Street around 5:20 p.m. after receiving a 911 call about a building fire with hazardous materials. Wichita Fire Chief Tammy Snow said the first crews on the scene reported multiple explosions. One-gallon propane bottles were exploding and shooting off. Fire was observed on the exterior of the building and is thought to have extended into the building, catching two additional trailers on fire. Firefighters said they needed more help and requested a second and third alarm. Snow said crews were able to mitigate the fire thanks to the wind coming out of the north.  

VIDEO: Just 12 miles from Midtown Manhattan is New Jersey's Teterboro Airport, which has an average of 500 flights a day according to fire officials, but taking in smaller planes requires unique training. CBS2's Jenna DeAngelis got an exclusive hands-on experience with new equipment preparing on-site first responders. When flying, a smooth takeoff and landing is always the goal and while crashes are rare, crews have to be ready for worst case scenario. "Eighty-two percent of accidents happen on taxi takeoff and landing and typically within 3,000 foot of the center of the airport," New Jersey Airports Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Wieczerzak said. Teterboro has its own aircraft rescue firefighting team. "It is the most regulated fire discipline in the country," Wieczerzak said. The crew is taking its training to the next level. With a "jaws of life" ribbon-cutting, they unveiled brand new equipment unique to Teterboro.  

Almost every fire station in St. Paul will soon have its own sauna, and researchers will jump on the opportunity to collect some firefighter sweat. Once the infrared saunas are installed, experts hope to collect at least 30 sweat samples to test them for carcinogens. "This study will be completely novel, as no one has looked for carcinogens in sweat in this way," said Dr. Zeke McKinney, an affiliate professor at the University of Minnesota and HealthPartners researcher, addressing the St. Paul City Council on Wednesday. "Firefighters have an increased risk of all cancers compared to the general population, as well as very specific cancers," he said.  

The number of blazes that have been reported at Seattle's homeless encampments have risen to nearly five a day in the area, prompting safety concerns and worries about depleted resources. The latest fire was reported Wednesday morning just steps away from T-Mobile Park. From Jan. 1 through April 3, officials said the Seattle Fire Department has responded 449 times to homeless camps for fire-related incidents, including rubbish fires and illegal burns. That's an increase over last year when there were 290 encampment fires in the first three months. A fire department spokesperson said it is hard to quantify just how much time and effort goes into battling blazes at homeless camps. However, the fires are draining city firefighting resources with little indication of ending anytime soon.  

Half of the states are seeing COVID case numbers rise again while nationwide totals continue to fall. The big picture: The Omicron subvariant known as BA.2 is the dominant strain circulating around the U.S., accounting for almost three out of every four cases. As in-person gatherings have begun again, COVID has sickened a number of Washington A-listers, reminding everyone — yet again — we're not out of the woods with this pandemic. By the numbers: Overall, cases dropped 5% across the U.S. to an average of about 28,700 cases from an average of more than 30,000 cases two weeks ago. Three states — Alaska, Vermont and Rhode Island — had more than 20 new cases per 100,000 people. Nine states — Utah, Montana, South Dakota, Kansas, Louisiana, Iowa, Arkansas, Indiana and Tennessee — had three or fewer new cases per 100,000 people. Between the lines: Deaths fell to an average of 600 a day, down 34% from just over 900 a day two weeks ago.